State Laws Flashcards
The term “Insurance Producer” does NOT include
- An individual who performs clercial or similar office duties while employed by an insurer
- A regular salaried officer or employee of an insurer, if the officer or employee is not paid a commission or other compensation that depends directly on the amount of business obtained
- If not paid a commission, a person that obtains and forwards information for:
- Group insurance coverage
- Enrolling individuals under group insurance coverage
- Issuing certificates under group insurance coverage, or
- Assisting in administering group plans
An insurance producer may qualify for a license in one or more of the following kinds of insurance:
- Life
- Accident, health, or sickness
- Property
- Casualty
- Variable life and annuity products
- Personal lines of property and casualty
- Limited lines (motor vehicle, credit, travel, title, motor vehicle rental company, HMO, and portable electronics
- Any other kind of insurance permitted by MD insurance laws
Advisers
A person who, for compensation:
- Examines or offers to examine a policy, annuity, contract, or pure endowment contract for the purpose of giving advice or information about its terms, conditions, benefits, coverage, or premium
- Gives or offers to give advice or information about a policy’s or contract’s terms, conditions, benefits, coverage, or premium; or the advisability of changing, exchanging, rejecting, accepting, or procuring such a policy or contract
Qualifications to become an Adviser
- Competent and trustworthy
- Resident of Maryland
- Must obtain a license/pass written exam
Prospective Adviser is exempt FROM EXAM if:
- Holds at least one of the following professional designations/is a member in good standing of such organization: Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), or Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
- Is a member in good standing of the Society of Actuaries, the Casualty Actuarial Society, or the Conference of Actuaries in Public Practice
- Successfully completes a course of study equivalent to that required for any of the above designations or societies and holds a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation
The Adviser license does not authorize the licensee to:
- Adjust losses
- Receive compensation from an insurer or producer for the sale or placement of insurance
An agreement between an insurance adviser and another person that relates to the providing of insurance advice or information is NOT enforceable by or for the adviser unless all of the following conditions are met:
- Agreement is in writing, in a form approved by the Commissioner
- Agreement is executed by the person to be charged (or by the person’s legal representative)
- Copy of the agreement is delivered to the person when he/she signs it
- Agreement plainly states the required fee and the services the adviser is to perform
Nonresidents
- ## Must be currently licensed as a resident producer, in good standing, in his/her home state (can be verified by the Commissioner through the NAIC’s producer database)
Home State definition by Maryland Law
State in which a person resides or has a primary place of business
Reciprocity
Producer’s home state must award nonresident licenses to MD residents on the same basis that nonresident licenses are awarded to nonresidents of MD
Business Entities
A corporation, professional association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or other legal entity
Qualifications for Business Entities
To qualify for a producer’s license, a business entity must deisgnate a licensed insurance producer as its principal contact with the MD Insurance Administration. The designated producer must:
- Provide Administration with producer’s name, business and email addresses, and business and fax phone numbers. Any changes to this information must be provided within 10 days after the change.
- Compile and maintain a list of locations where the entity’s records are maintained
- Submit any trade name to be used by the applicant and name and address of producers doing business under trade name
- Cooperate with any investigation by the Administration unless doing so would violate a legal privilege asserted by the producer or business entity
**Does not apply for a motor vehicle rental company applying for a limited lines license to sell insurance in connection with, and incidental to, the motor vehicle rental.
Temporary Licenses
Commissioner may issue. Valid for 15 months, without regard to education, experience or examination requirements in the following instances:
- To surviving spouse, next of kin, personal representative, or appointed personal representative of a deceased insurance producer
- Spouse, next of kin, employee, or legal guardian of a producer who is physically or mentally disabled
- Employee of a firm or officer or employee of a corporation, on the death or disability of a producer
Person must pay a fee and Commissioner must issue license or provide reasoning for refusal within 30 days.
Address and/or Name Changes
Re: Maintaining a License
- Must file proper forms with Commissioner to change, add to or delete information from a license. - Notification must be made within 30 days for change in legal or trade name or address.
- Failing to do so is punishable by potential license denial, suspension, revocation, or nonrenewal
Assumed Names/Trade Names
Re: Maintaining a License
- A person that is not an insurer may not assume or use a name that deceptively implies or suggests that it is an insurer.
- Holder of license may not use any name other than the name on the issued license or trade name files with the Commissioner
Requirement to Report Adverse Administrative Actions or Crimes
- Producer must report being the subject of any adverse administrative action in another jurisdiction or by another governmental unit in the state within 30 days after the matter’s disposition. Copy of order, consent order and any other applicable documents must be included in report.
- Producer must report being prosecuted for a crime, other than a misdemeanor traffic violation, to Commissioner within 30 days of first appearing in court. Report must include:
- Charging documentation (citation, indictment, statement of charges, etc.)
- Any order issued by a court
- Any other relevant legal documents
Renewal
- Producer License expires every OTHER year on the last day of producer’s birth month
- Before expiration, producer may renew license for additional 2 years if producer files a renewal application (sent by Commissioner 1 month before expiration), pays fees and completes continuing ed requirements prior to expiration date.
Once renewal application is filed (before license expires) the license remains in effect until:
- Commissioner issues a renewal license
- 5 days after Commissioner refuses to renew license and gives notice of the refusal to the holder
Reinstatement
- If license lapses, producer may apply for reinstatement for up to 1 year by filing reinstatement application, paying renewal and reinstatement fees (if any) and submitting proof of continuing ed requirements
- If reinstating within 60 days after expiration, license will be reinstated effective on the date it expired. If after 60 days, license will be effective on date of reinstatement.
- Licensee who does not apply for reinstatement within 1 year of expiration must apply for license in the manner required for initial license. Commissioner may waive reinstatement procedures for a producer who is unable to comply with renewal/reinstatement procedures due to military service or other extenuating circumstances, including long-term medical disability.
Continuing Education
- 24 hours per renewal period (including 3 hours relating to ethics)
- For producers who have held a license for 25 or more consecutive years, only 8 hours per renewal period is required
The following individuals are exempts from the continuing ed requirements:
- Employees of a HMO who are employed solely to solicit membership under a contract between HMO and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Attorneys at law of the state who are qualified as title insurance producers and who do not hold a license in any other kind of insurance
- Individuals who hold only limited lines license and act as a producer for limited line credit insurance
- Insurance producers who hold any limited lines license in any type of insurance designated by the Commissioner
- Anyone obtaining a waver from the Commissioner for reasons Commissioner determines warrant the waiver
Nonresident Producer Continuing Education
Nonresident producer has met continuing ed requirements of MD if he/she satisfies the continuing ed requirements of his/her home state and his/her home state allows insurance producers from MD to satisfy their continuing on the same basis
Continuing Education for specific policies
- Each producer who possesses a license to sell health insurance and who sells Long-Term Care insurance must take continuing ed that directly relates to LTC insurance.
- Producers selling health insurance and marketing senior prescription drug assistance program must receive continuing ed that directly relates
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Appointment
Agreement between an insurance producer and insurer under which the producer, for compensation, may sell, solicit, or negotiate policies issued by the insurer.
Producer Register
A register of appointed insurance producers authorized to sell, solicit, or negotiate contracts of insurance on behalf of an insurer.
Insurer’s Responsibilities
Re: Producer Register
Insurer is required to keep a Producer Register of its appointed agents. Within 30 days after appointing a producer, the insurer must add the following information to its producer register:
- Producer’s name and license number
- Date the producer was appointed
- Any additional information that the Commissioner might require
Individual vs. Business Entity
Licensed producer appointed by an insurer must maintain documentation of the insurer’s appointment and a list of the insurers that have appointed the producer.
Before a business entity may accept compensation for acting in its own name as a producer in the State, the business entity must obtain:
- A LICENSE in the kind of insurance for which the business entity intends to act as a producer
- An APPOINTMENT for the kind of insurance for which it intends to act as a producer
Insurance Producers NOT Appointed by Insurer
Insurer may initially accept an application for life insurance, health insurance, or an annuity from a producer who is not appointed by the insurer and is not on the insurer’s producer registry if, within 30 days of accepting the application, the insurer:
- Rejects the application
- Appoints producer and enters required information into the producer register
Producer must receive written documentation of the appointment from insurer.
Termination of Appointment
- Upon termination of producer, the insurer must update producer register of termination date within 30 days following termination.
- Within 15 after providing notice to Commissioner, insurer must mail a copy of the notice to the producer to last known address (by certified mail)
- Insurer must notify Commissioner of termination and include any additional information, documents, record, or date pertaining to the termination or activities.
Termination “activities”
- Any activities that could result in the denial, suspension, revocation, refusal to renew, or reinstate the insurance license
- Any findings by a court, government unit, or self-regulatory organization authorized by law
Disciplinary Actions
- Probation, Denial, Suspension, Revocation or Refusal to Renew
- Following notice and opportunity for a hearing, the Commissioner may deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew or reinstate an insurance producer license for many reasons (relating to fraud, misrepresenting, concealing, violating, etc.)
Child Support Arrears or Subpoena
Re: Disciplinary Actions
A peron’s license may be denied or suspended for being over 120 days in arrears in paying child support or for failing to comply with a subpoena issued by the Child Support Enforcement Administration
Cease and Desist Orders Against INSURERS
Without notice and before a hearing, the Commissioner may issue and serve on an insurer an order requiring the insurer to immediately cease and desist from writing insurance in MD if it appears that:
- Insurer is conducting business that threatens to cause insolvency or is hazardous to its policyholders, creditors, or the public
- Insurer is engaged in an act, practice, or transaction that is grounds o cause insurer conservation or liquidation proceedings
- Irreparable loss and injury to insurer’s property and business or the public may occur unless the Commissioner acts immediately
Commissioner will issue and serve the insurer a notice of hearing within 5 days of the order, unless 5-day requirement is waived by insurer in which case the hearing will be held within 30 days of order
Cease and Desist Orders Against Producers
- If Commissioner finds that producer has engaged in prohibited acts or practices, cease and desist order can be issued. If producer continues practice following order, he/she may face penalties prescribed by Commissioner.
- Hearing will be held prior to issuing order and Commissioner will give producer notice of hearing and charges against them.
- Order is final when the time allowed for taking an appeal expires. If appeal is taken, order is affirmed or dismissed when final court decision is made.
Penalties
Any party who violates any provision of MD insurance law (for which a greater penalty is not specifically provided by other state laws) is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, may be fined between $100 and $50,000 for EACH violation. Fine will be in addition to administrative penalties that may be applicable, such as loss of authority, loss of license to conduct business, orders to pay restitution to injured parties and administrative fines.
Instead of, or in addition to suspending or revoking the license, the Commissioner may:
- Impose a penalty of $100-$500 for each violation
- Require licensee pass an exam and file a new application before suspension is lifted
Hearings
Most hearings are open to the public. Exceptions, as determined by the Commissioner, include:
- Not in the public’s interest
- Determine whether and insurer’s operation is hazardous and could result in impairment
- Request by an insurer to hold a private hearing
All parties to a hearing can inspect documentary evidence, present evidence, examine witnesses, and have the Commissioner issue subpoenas to compel attendance of witnesses and production of evidence.
After Hearing
Within 30 days after a hearing, Commissioner issues an order on the hearing and gives each party a copy of the order that was given a notice of the hearing. The order affirms, modifies, or nullifies previous action, or precipitates new action.
An order of the Commissioner will include:
- Statement of facts found by Commissioner
- Commissioner’s conclusions from the facts
- Grounds on which it is based
- Provisions of this statute under which action is, or proposed to be, taken
No one may be subject to civil liability for reporting suspected insurance fraud if:
- Report was made to the Commissioner, the Fraud Division, or an appropriate federal, state, local law enforcement authority, and
- The person that reported the suspected insurance fraud acted in good faith when making the report
All applications for insurance and all claim forms must contain the following statement or a substantially similar one:
“Any person who knowingly or willfully presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss or benefit or who knowingly or willfully presents false information in an application for insurance is guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in prison.”
Insurance Fraud Division, established under the Maryland Insurance Administration, includes the following powers and duties:
- Authority to investigate each person suspected of engaging in insurance fraud
- After an investigation, refer suspected cases of fraud to the Office of the Attorney General or local State’s Attorney to criminally prosecute the suspected offender
- Compile and abstract information regarding the confirmed acts of fraud
- Cooperate with the Department of State Police, Attorney General, and State’s Attorney
- Provide a toll-free hot line to receive and record information about alleged acts of insurance fraud
- Conduct public outreach and awareness programs on the costs of insurance fraud to the public
- Investigate allegations of civil fraud, and, if appropriate, impose administrative penalties and order restitution
It is a fraudulent act to:
- Commit fraudulent act in obtaining a license
- Commit fraudulent act in the transaction of insurance
- Have a license suspended or revoked for having committed a fraudulent act
MD Fraudulent Insurance Acts specify the following as crimes of insurance fraud
- Failing to return premiums with respect to a claim
- False or misleading information with respect to a claim
- Misappropriation of benefits
- Except for the prepayment of premiums or excess contributions allowed under the policy, to willfully collect a premium in excess of those approved by the Commissioner or set by the insurer
- Supporting an application for a viatical settlement contract with knowledge that it contains false and misleading information
Penalties for these violations are:
Felony - If monetary value is $300 or more, it is punishable by a fine of $10,000 or 3 times the fraudulent amount, whichever is greater (but must be at least $500), or up to 15 years imprisonment or both
- Misdemeanor - If the monetary value involved is less than $300, the violator must restore either the property or pay the monetary value of the fraud
The Commissioner’s primary duties include:
- Issuance, refusal, suspension, or revocation of Certificates of Authority to insurers and licenses to producers involved in the insurance business
- Establishing rules and regulations necessary to conduct and fulfill MD insurance laws
- Conducting investigations, exams, and hearings associated with administering MD insurance laws
- Preparing annual report to the Governor detailing the activities of the MD Insurance Administration for the previous fiscal year
- Preparing a report when required, but at least once every 5 years, concerning recommended changes to financial requirements for insurers
The Commissioner shall establish divisions or sections in the Administration, along the following lines of responsibility:
- Life insurance and health insurance
- Property insurance and casualty insurance
- Audit and examination
- Insurance professions
- Consumer affairs
- Insurance fraud
- Examinations
The Commissioner, as often as advisable, may examine the accounts, records, documents, and transactions relating to the insurance business. The examinee must:
- Provide and make freely available all records, documents, files, accounts, and information related to the examination
- Pay the examination expenses, including the expense of an actuary, accountant, or other expert who is not otherwise a part of the Commissioner’s staff, if expert is necessary to conduct the examination
- Receive a copy of the examination report at least 30 days before it is filed - Examinee may request in writing, within the 30-day period before filing, a hearing on its report. Such request delays the report’s filing until after the hearing
An order of the Commissioner shall state:
- Its effective date and purpose
- The grounds on which it is based, and
- The provisions of the Insurance Code under which action is or proposed to be taken
Forms Filings
Each form for a policy, certificate of insurance, notice of proposed insurance, application for insurance, endorsement, or rider delivered or issued for delivery in MD must be filed with the Commissioner for approval.
Any standard certificate of insurance form required by a federal agency or adopted by the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD) or the Insurance Services Office (ISO) that otherwise complies with these requirements is deemed approved by the Commissioner
Approval Process for Forms Filings
Commissioner must approve the filing, disapprove the filing or withdraw approval within 60 days after form is filed. An insurer may not issue or use a form filed with the Commissioner until the end of the 60-day waiting period unless Commissioner approves the filing in writing before the end of the period.
Commissioner will NOT approve a form if it contains provisions that:
- Are unjust, unfair, inequitable, misleading, or deceptive
- Encourage misrepresentation of the coverage
- Are contrary to a regulation
Rates Filings
Commissioner must, within 60 days after a premium rate is filed, approve the rates or disapprove them if the table of premium rates appears by reasonable assumptions to be excessive in relation to the benefits.
Commissioner considerations when reviewing the rate filing
- Past and prospective loss experience in and outside MD
- Underwriting practice and judgement to the extent appropriate
- A reasonable margin for underwriting profit and contingencies
- Past and prospective expenses, whether countrywide or specially applicable in MD
- Any other relevant factors in and outside of MD
Hearing for disapproved Rate Filing
A hearing will be held within 20 days after receipt of a written request by the insurer
Complaint Records
Insurers must maintain a complaint system to provide reasonable procedures for the resolution of written complaints initiated by policyholders.
A record of all written complaints must be maintained by the insurer. The Commissioner may examine the complaint record at any time.
To qualify for a Certificate of Authority, the insurer must:
- Be in compliance with its charter policies and Maryland insurance statutes
- Be an incorporated stock insurer, incorporated mutual insurer, or reciprocal insurer
- Have and maintain capital stock and surplus required by statute for the type of insurer
- Have assets and surplus that is reasonable in relation to the insurer’s outstanding liabilities and adequate to its financial needs
- Provide: articles of incorporation including all amendments, certified copies of bylaws and all amendments, and the annual statement as of the preceding December 31
Certificate of Authority Expiration/Renewal
A Certificate of Authority expires on the first June 30 after its effective date unless it is renewed by the insurer. Insurer must file a renewal application and pay the appropriate renewal fee. Failure to renew on or before June 30 may incur a monetary penalty and the Commissioner may issue a cease and desist order directing the company to stop writing insurance.
Commissioner is required (mandatory grounds) to deny, refuse to renew, suspend, or revoke a Certificate of Authority if the insurer:
- No longer meets the requirement for Certificate of Authority of a deficiency in assets or other reason
- Conducts its business fraudulently
- Is insolvent or its assets are not sufficient for the business
- Fails to pay premium taxes
- Operates contrary to public interest
- Is managed by individuals who are untrustworthy, not of good character, or so lacking in insurer managerial experience that the Commissioner finds their operation of the company would be hazardous to the public or stockholders
- If affiliated with anyone whose business operations are marked by manipulation or bad faith to the detriment of insureds, stockholders, or creditors
- Violates other laws requiring mandatory denial, refusal to renew, suspension or revocation
Penalty
Re: Certificate of Authority
Instead of or in addition to suspending or revoking a Certificate of Authority, the Commissioner may:
- Impose on the holder a penalty of $100-$125,000 for each violation
- Require the holder to make restitution to any person who has suffered financial injury because of the violation